Wall construction.



G. A. LEONARD.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 19:4.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Inventor Attorneys GEORGE A. LEONARD, OF SHEFFIELD, IOWA.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed March 14, 1914. Serial No. 824,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG A. LEONARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheffield, in the county of Franklin and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful \Vall Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wall constructions, one of its objects being to provide intel-fitting blocks of novel form, the. blocks of each course operating to tie together the blocks of the next course thereunder.

A further object is to provide novel tying means for use in connection with the blocks whereby said blocks can be prevented from pulling apart at their ends, the tying means being so constructed that, when properly applied, they will tend to draw the blocks together and thus practically seal the oints between the blocks.

\Vith. the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without de arting from the spirit of the invention.

11 the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an inner elevation of a portion of a wall constructed in accordance with the present invention, a part of a door frame being shown in position and tied to the wall elements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of portions of two meeting blocks and showing the relative positions of the tie and the terminals of the reinforcing rods before the blocks are drawn together by the compressing of the parts of the tie. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the tie compressed and the terminals of the reinforcing rods bent back, thus to draw the blocks together. Fig. 4 is a section on line AB Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a block of plastic material having its upper and its lower edges converging inwardly to points equidistant from the ends of the block so that, when the blocks are arranged in superposed courses, one half of the upper edge of each of two abutting blocks will be received with-' in the angular recess formed by the inwardly converging lower edges of the block thereabove. This arrangement is clearly llustrated in Fig. 1 and by referring thereto it will be seen that when the blocks are thus superimposed, each block will constitute a tie for holding together the two blocks directly thereunder. Each block can be provided along one longitudinal edge and one end with a bead and along the other longitudlnal edge and end with a groove, one of these beads being shown at 2 and a groove being illustrated at 3. Thus it will be seen that the blocks will not only operate to tie together the adjoining blocks thereunder, but will also inter-fit and thus seal the joints between the blocks. Importance is attached to the fact that the upper and lower edges of the blocks converge to central points as this permits the blocks which are engaged by said inwardly converging edges to be ad usted up to each other.

Each block 1 is provided, in its inner side at each end with recesses 4 and each block is likewise provided with a desired number of reinforcing rods 5 having offset terminals 6 which project into the recesses as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. \Vhen the blocks are set up for use, the corresponding recesses 4 will register to form sockets, each socket thus containing two offset terminals of tie rods which are embedded in separate blocks.

\Vhen-the blocks are set up for use, they do not always come close together but a small space will often be left between them, as shown for example at 7 in Fig. 2. In order that the blocks may be properly drawn together and held, tie devices of novel form are used in connection with the offset ends 6 of the reinforcing rods. These tie devices have been indicated at 8 and are preferably S-shaped, the free ends 'of the tie devices being outturned or hooked, as shown at 9, although these hooked terminals can be dispensed with if desired. After the blocks have been set up, the tie devices 8 are placed in the sockets formed by the registering recesses 4 and are slipped onto the terminals 6 located in the sockets. The said terminals are then bent back, as shown at 9', this operation resulting in the said terminals pulling over the tie 8 and drawing the blocks 1 toward each other. The blocks can be still further adjusted toward each other by pla cing a suitable tool in engagement with the hooked ends of the tie 8 and pressing said ends toward each other, thusshortening the tie and causing it to pull on the bent terminals 6. Consequently, after the terminals (5 have been bent back as described and the ends of the tie have been bent inwardly in the manner set forth, the blocks 1 will be drawn tightly together as shown for example in Fig. 3.

Where the blocks are to be set up against and secured to a door frame, hook bolts 10 are to be used, these bolts being extended into the recesses l and into engagement with the terminals 6 of the rods 5. The said terminals are then bent as hereinbefore described so as to draw the blocks up against the door frame after which nuts 11 can be tightened on the bolts so as to draw the bolts longitudinally and bind the blocks to a greater extent against the door frame.

It is to be understood that while the blocks are preferably tied together at their ends.

the ties can be located at any other points desired by changing the positions of the recesses in the blocks.

lVhat is claimed is A wall construction including abutting blocks having registering recesses, and tie rods within the blocks and formed with transversely extending free end portions within the recesses, said end portionsbeing bendable within the recesses, and a substantially S-shaped bendable tie device engagingthe terminals and having out-turned hooked ends.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. LEONARD.

Witnesses SELINA \VILLsoN, I. E. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

